Form for concrete columns



Aug. 16, 1932. F. v. SCHUBERT FORM FOR CONCRETE COLUMNS Filed Nov. 24,1928 1 t e e h s S t e e h s 4 5:: llll'llllIllllHlllllll mfi:

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F.V.SCHUBERT FORM FOR CONCRETE COLUMNS Filed Nov. 24, 1928 4Sheets-Sheet 2 g- 16, 1932- F. v. SCHUBERT 1,871,919

FORM FOR CONCRETE COLUMNS Filed Nov. 24. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug, 16,1932. F. v. SCHUBER-T 1,

FORM FOR CONCRETE COLUMNS Fi led Nov. 24. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZPatented Aug. 16, 1932 invrrao srn'ras FRED V. SCHUBERT, OF BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS FORM FOR CONCRETE COLUMNS Application filed November 241928. Serial No. 321,565.

This invention relates to forms for use in making concrete columns.

The forms ordinarily used for this purpose are made of wood. Theirerection and subsequent removal after the column has set not only isexpensive in materials but also in time and labor. YVith a View toreducing this expense a great variety of metal forms have been proposedbut so far-as I have been able to learn they have met with onlyindifferent bolts and nuts which rust and are the cause.

of much trouble. p

The present invention deals with this pro hlem and it aims to devise athoroughly practical solution for it. It provides a form which can beerected or disassembled with aminimum of labor, which has ample strengthand rigidity to withstand the hydrostatic pressure of the concretemixture while it is still in a semi-fluid mass and which, in addition tobeing adjustable for columns of different dimensions and shapes, stillis economical to manufacture.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from thefollowing description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings andthe novel features will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of a form for a column of square cross section,this form being constructed in accordance with the present inventionFig. 2 is a in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of bars used in the girdle shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. at is a view similar to Fig. 1 showplan view of the form shownprovision for adjusting the form verused in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2and-1;

Fig. 8 is a plan View of a key which preferably is used in securing thesections of the form together;

Figs. 9 and 10 are plan views of wedges used in the constructionillustrated; v

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of a modified form of girdle; and

Fig. 12' is a perspective view of the yoke shown in Fig. 1 j

The drawings show the invention as embodied in a form designed for themaking of square concrete columns, although it will e understood that itis equally useful in making columns of other cross sectional shapes.Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2,

it will be seen that theform there shown 1 comprises a series of sheetmetal sectionsor units 2 each of channel section. These units arerelatively long and narrow and extend longitudinally of the column. Thenumber of these units used will necessarily depend upon the shape anddimensions of the column and the dimensions of the units themselves. Inthe form illustrated in F ig. 2 three of these units are used at eachside of the column. At the corners of the column additional sheet metalunits 3 of angular section are used.

. It will be observed that these units are arranged edge to edge withtheir mar inal flanges extending backwardly away from the column and theflanges of adjacent units abutting against each other. In order tosecure the units together the flanges are perforated or slotted toreceive fastening devices, this slotted construction being clearly shownin Figs. 5,, 6 and 7. The slots are similarly locatedin all of the unitsso that the slots of abutting flanges of adjoining units will registerwith each other. -Prefer- 1 ably keys 4 and wedges 5 (see Figs. 8 and 9)are used to fasten these units together. These parts preferably are madeout of relatively heavy sheet metal. Each key, as show in Fig. 8, has ahead 6 and a shank 7 of suitable dimens'zons to fit in the slots in theflanges of the units, this shank being slotted, as shown at 8, toreceive the key 5, and the end portion of the shank being tapered. Thekeys are inserted in the registering slots of abutting flanges of theunits and the wedges 5 are then driven into the slots in the keys, thusclamping each pair of abutting flanges between the head of the key andthe wedge.

ling and the disrupting action of the hydrostatic pressure to which theform necessarily is subjected in practice and which is very severe inthe case of long columns of large cross section, a series of girdles orbelts is provided. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each beltconsists of four bars indicated, respectively, at 10, 11, 12 and 13. Thebars and 12 are substantially alike, and the bars 11 and 12 also areduplicates of each other but are of diflerent construction from the bars10 and 12. That is, the la"- ter bars are slotted, as best shown at 14,Fig.

1, to receive the end portions of the bars 11 and 13. These bars arearranged horizontally so that they bear edgewise against the form andtheir overlapping portions are provided with diagonal slots 15,preferably arranged at an angle of approximately with reference to theedges of the bars. The slots of the overlapping portions of the bars atthe corners of the form can readily be brought into register with eachother, and the bars are secured in this relationship by large wedges 16,one wedge being driven down through each pair of registering slots. Asbest shown in Fig. 2 the slots in which the wedges 16 are located aredirected, re-

' spectively, toward the corners of the form.

It will be clear, therefore, that as these wedges are driven down. eachwedge will tend to slide the bars which it engages along the sides oftheform toward its respective corner. This tightens the girdle firmlyaround the form and holds the girdle in its tightened condition.

A series of these girdles are used on each form, the irdles being spacedvertically from each other. If desired certain of the girdles can bemade to rest on the keys 4 r as shown, for example, in the lower part oiFig. 1. Obviously the number and spacing of the girdles used will dependupon the d mensions of the column being poured, a long column of largecross section requiring a closer spacing of the girdles, particularly atthe lower part of the form, than a shorter or smaller column.

The erecting of a form of this construction will be obvious from theforegoing description. This erecting operation can be performed veryrapidly, and after the column has been poured and set the form can betaken down quickly by knocking out the wedges 16 and removing thegirdles, and then knocking out the wedges 5 at the corners of the formso as to release the side sections of the form from each other.

The units 2 and 3 may conveniently be made of twenty gage sheet steel,although other materials and diflerent thicknesses can also be used. Thebars for the girdles should be made of heavier stock. While the units 2can be made of any suitable width, it will be round convenient forordinary construction purposes to use units of three and four inches inwidth. With these two sizes forms can he built for the pouring ofa'great variety of sizes and shapes of columns. observed that since theunits do not overlap each other at the face of the column but arearranged in an edge to edge or abutting relationship, the form producesa smooth faced column without the longitudinal grooves which are made inthe faces of the columns when overlapping plates or sections are used.At the same time this construction efliectual- 1y resists the tendencyof the concrete to buckle or spread the form, due partly to the flangedconstruction of the units and partly, also, to the fact that the edgesof these flanges bear against the edges of the girdle bars 10, 11, 12and 13, this arrangement being particularly effective in resisting thehydrostatic pressure created within the form when the concrete ispoured. The use of wedges to hold the units together and to fast-en andtighten the girdle sections is a great convenience both in erecting andtaking down the forms. 1

Usually the units 2 and 3 are shorter than the height of the column tobe poured, and in order to make the form adjustable for height, it maybe made in upper and lower sections, the units of the upper sectionbeing telescoped with those of the lower section. This arrangement'isshown in Fig. 4, from an inspection of which it will be seen that theunits 2 of the upper section of the form are sprung inside thecorresponding units 2 of the lower section. This can readily be done dueto thenature and construction of the units. Thus in the region A, Fig.i, where the upper and lower sections overlap each other, each key 4 andits cooperating wedge 5 will clamp four flanges together, as clearlyshown in the drawings. t the upper ends of the flanges of the lowerunits 2 there will be narrow tapering cracks 17, Fig. 4, between theflanges of the upper units 2. If these units, however, are made oftwenty gage sheet steel, as above stated, the maximum width of thesecracks is so small that they cause no trouble in actual practice. I

It should be It will now be evident that the invention provides a metalform for making concrete columns which is economical to manufacture,convenient to handle, which can be used in the pouring of a greatvariety of sizes and shapes of columns, and which results in the savingof time, labor and materials as compared with the use of wooden forms.This has definitely been established in the practical use of theinvention.

While I have herein shown and described a typical embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that this embodiment has been disclosedrather by way of illustration than limitation and that the invention maybe embodied in a great variety of other forms without departing from thespirit or scope thereof. F or example, the changes required to produceother flat sided columns will be obvious. Round columns can also be madeby using units of different shape, each unit having an inner surfacewhich is a section of a cylinder with its flanges projecting on radii ofthe cylinder;

Fig. 11 shows a somewhat diflerent form of girdle which has theadvantage of being lighter in weight than the girdle construction abovedescribed and still operating in essentially the same manner. In thisarrangement each pair of girdle bars 19 and 20 are connected together atone corner of the form by a pivot pin, bolt or rivet 21 so that thesetwo members can swing. The two pivots 21 are arranged at diametricallyopposite corners. At the other corners the bars 19 and 20 overlap andthese overlapping por tions are provided with slots 15 like those formedin the girdle bars previously described. Preferably a yoke 22, Fig. 12,is used at each of these corners to embrace the bars, the yoke beingopen at one side to permit the bar 20 to pass through it and having aslot 23 at its opposite side to permit the end of the bar 19 to passthrough. A diagonal slot is provided in this yoke toreceive the cornerwedge 16 which is guided in the yoke and is driven through theregistering slots 15 of the two bars 19 and 20 so as to tighten thegirdle about the form in the same manner as in the construction abovedescribed. 7

These and other modifications may be made within the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. A form for making flat sided concrete columns, comprising a pluralityof sheet metal units of channel section extending longitudinally of eachside of the form to support the sides of the column, additional sheetmetal units of angular section extend ing longitudinally of the form atthe corners of the column, said channel units being arranged edge toedge with their flanges in lapping v be brought into register, wedgeslocated in the registering slots and cooperating with being arrangedwith one flange abutting the flange of a channel unit in each of twosides 7 of the form, said flanges being slotted to 2. A form for makingflat sided concrete columns, comprising a plurality of sheet metal unitsof channel section extending longitudinally of each side of the form tosupport the sides of the column, additional sheet metal units of angularsection extendthe form at the coring longitudinally of ners of thecolumn, said channel units being arranged edge to edge with theirflanges in abutting relationship, and said angular units being arrangedwith one flange abutting the flange of a channel of the form, means forremovably fastening the flanges of said units throughout itssides and atthe corners, rigidly together, thereby to provide a normallyself-sustaining form, and girdles encircling said form and spacedlongitudinally thereof, each of said girdles comprising bars bearingagainst the outer edges of said flanges, and means for tightening saidgirdles about said form.

3. A form formaking concrete columns, comprising a plurality ofsheetmetal units extending longitudinally of each side of the form forsupporting the sides of the column, means connecting the units of eachside toabutting relationship, and said angular units unit in each of twosides gether, andmeans connecting each complete side to an adjacent sideby to: provide a normally self-sustaining form, a irdle encircling saidform and comprising bars bearing edgewise against the of the form, theresides of the form, said bars having inclined slots formed therethrough,the slots in over portions of the bars being adapted to the bars tocrowd them against the sides of the form and thereby to tighten thegirdle around the form, and a yoke embracing the overlapping portions ofa pair of said bars said yoke being slotted to receive and guide thewedge which acts on said overlapping portions of said bars.

l. A form for making flat sided concrete columns, comprising a pluralityof sheet metal units extending longitudinally of each side of the formfor the column, means supporting the sides of connecting the units ofeach side together, and means connecting each complete side to anadjacent side of the form,

thereby said form and edgewise against said bars being overlapped uponeach other at corners of the form and having diagonal slots formed toprovide a normally self-sustaining form, and a girdle encirclingcomprising bars bearing the sides of the form,

through them and arranged to be brought into register with each other,the registering slots at said corners of the column being directed,respectively, toward the corners of the column, wedges in saidregistering slots for tightening the girdle around the form,

and a yoke embracing the overlapping portions of a pair of said bars andslotted to receive and guide the wedge which acts on said overlappingportions of said bars.

5'. A form for making fiat sided concrete columns, comprising aplurality of sheet metal units extending longitudinally of each side ofthe form for supporting the sides of the column, means connecting theunits of each side together, and means connecting each complete side toan adjacent side of the form, thereby to provide a normallyselfsustaining form, a girdle encircling said form and comprising barsbearing edgewise against the sides of the form and having portionsoverlapping one on the other, slots formed diagonally in said bars insuch positions that the slots in overlapping portions of th-e'bars maybe brought into register with each other at a corner of the form, wedgeslocated in said registering slots and cooperating with the overlappingportions of the bars to tighten the girdle on the form, yokescooperating with the overlapping portions of each pair of bars atcertain corners of the form, each yoke being open at one side to receiveone bar and slotted at its opposite side to permit the end of the otherbar to pass through it, and having a second slot to registe'r with saiddiagonal slots in said overlapping portions of the bars to receive andguide a wedge extending through the slots in said yoke and saidoverlapping portions of the ars.

'6. A form for making flat sided concrete columns, comprising aplurality of sheet metal units of channel section extendinglongitudinally of each side of the form to support the sides of thecolumn, additional sheet metal units of angular section extendinglongitudinally of the form at the corners of the column, said channelunits being arranged edge to edge with their flanges in abuttingrelationship, and said angular units being arranged with one flangeabutting the flange of a channel unit in each of two sides of the form,means for removably fastening the flanges of said units throughout itssides and at the corners, rigidly together, thereby to provide anormally self-sustaining form, girdles encircling said form and spacedlongilocated in registering slots and cooperating with the bars to crowdthem against the sides of the form and thereby to tighten the girdlearound the iorm.

7 A form for making flat sided concrete columns, comprising a series ofsheet metal units of channel section extending longitudinally of theform to support the sides of the column, additional sheet metal units ofangular section extending longitudinally of the form at the corners ofthe column, said units being arrangededge to edge with their flanges inabutting relationship, and means for removably fastening the flanges ofsaid units rigidly together.

8. A form for making concrete columns, comprising a series of sheetmetal units extending longitudinally of the form to support the sides ofthe column, having marginal fianges'extending longitudinally thereof andprojecting backwardly away from the column, said flanges being slottedto receive slotted keys, and wedges located in the slots of said keysand cooperating with them to secure the abutting flanges of adjacentunits rigidly but releasably together.

FRED V. SGHUBERT.

tudinally thereof, each of said girdles comprising bars bearing edgewiseagainst the outer edges of said flanges and overlapped upon each otherat corners of: the form, said bars having inclined slots formedtherethrough with the slots in overlapping portions of the bars beingadapted to be brought into register with each other, and Wedges each ofsaid units CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,871,919. August 16, 1932.

FRED V. SCHUBERT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Pagel,line 98, for "show" read shown; page 3, line 72, "claim 1, for "through"read throughout; and that thevsaid Letters Patent shouldbe read withthese corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of thecase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of November, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

